Greater London Plan

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning when it is proposed to announce the constitution and personnel of the Planning Board recommended in the Abercrombie Report to be set up to carry out the proposals contained in the Greater London Plan.

A Committee under the chairmanship of the right hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. C. Davies) was set up in 1946 to consider the appropriate machinery for securing concerted action in the implementation of a regional plan for London as a whole. Their deliberations have been delayed by the changes made in planning administration by the Act of 1947 and I have not yet had their report. Until I have their report, which I hope to receive shortly, I cannot come to any conclusion on this matter.

As the Minister has already agreed in principle to the setting up of the Planning Board recommended in the Abercrombie Report, does he now say that some other body has been set up to advise him whether he should set up such a planning body, and would he
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realise that, as housing in London is getting steadily worse and admirable planning personnel is available, it would be of advantage to all if he could set up the Planning Board under the appropriate Abercrombie Report right away?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what are the reasons for the delay in announcing the new road plan, the recommendation for which was embodied in the Abercrombie Plan for Greater London; and whether he will make a statement.

The Memorandum on London Regional Planning. issued by my Department in May, 1947, embodied the conclusions of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and myself on the majority of the road proposals of the Greater London Plan. The remainder of the proposals required further investigation. This is now in progress, and when my right hon. Friend and I have reached decisions. these will be announced.

Is the Minister aware that the siting on the plan of one road alone—that is the London "A" ring road—is causing delay in the formulation or completion of plans in a number of boroughs, including, I need scarcely say, Finsbury; and would he, with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, speed up a decision as to where this and other roads are to be so that we can build some houses in places where the roads will not be?

Is the Minister aware that a number of local authorities in London are actually permitting the population to increase to a figure beyond that laid down in the County of London Report, and would the Minister take such steps as will prevent this increase in population?

asked the Minister of Town and Country Planning what progress has been made in carrying out the recommendations of the Abercrombie Plan for the decentralisation of population and industry in the Greater London area, and in particular, in which areas there has been a reduction in the density of the population to the recommended figure of 136 persons per acre.

Work on site preparation is in progress at four new towns around London. Corporations have been set up for two other such new towns and two more proposals are under consideration. In addition, schemes for the expansion of selected towns are being worked out by the local authorities concerned and a phased building programme for all developments proposed for the accommodation of population and industry from London is also in preparation. No permanent reduction of the density of population in inner areas is possible until the economic situation permits the large-scale building of houses in the new towns and other reception centres.